Red-light Runners Churn City Coffers

Boynton is looking to pick a vendor for camera system

Can elected officials resist an offer that claims to save lives, generates revenue and doesn't cost a dime?

American Traffic Solutions promises those goodies with a free red-light camera system that slaps redlight runners with $125 citations. Cities rake in revenue without investing any money, and the company makes its profit by taking a cut from each citation.

Boynton Beach commissioners plan to decide Tuesday how to choose their redlight camera vendor. They will consider moving forward with competitive bidding or using an existing contract another municipality has agreed to, known as piggybacking, for a similar red-light runners program.

The city put its competitive bidding process on hold after ATS approached city officials and told them they'd save time and money by picking ATS via a piggyback contract. But the city still accepted bids through Wednesday?s deadline, including those from ATS and competitors traffipax inc., Redflex Traffic Systems and Gatso USA. Those bids will remain sealed until commissioners decide which route to go Tuesday.

ATS has 36 contracts with cities throughout Florida, including Royal Palm Beach, Palm Springs, West Palm Beach and Haverhill, and it's eager to get Boynton Beach.

"It's going to save lives in Boynton Beach," Greg Parks, a senior vice president with the company, told commissioners earlier this month.

He said that by piggybacking on another contract, the city could have the cameras installed at key intersections within 45 to 60 days.

For Mayor Jerry Taylor, that's enough and he supports duplicating an existing contract: "Why are we re-creating the wheel here?" he said. "Why are we going out and trying to do the same work done by cities around us?"

But Stuart Mackiernan, CEO for traffipax inc., argues that the city won't be saving any money by ditching the bidding process.

City staff handles the bidding process inhouse, so there are no additional costs incurred or money saved by choosing a piggyback contract, according to an e-mail from Finance Director Barry Atwood.

In Pembroke Pines, ATS had one camera installed last May that issued warnings through March 1 when the city began writing up fines. The city has issued 192 citations - of which 47 have been paid as of Thursday - a $5,000 revenue stream for Pembroke Pines in the past seven weeks.

Pembroke Pines Police Chief Daniel Giustino said the company seemed to have the best technology at no cost to taxpayers.

Staff Researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.

Erika Pesantes can be reached at epesantes@SunSentinel. com or 561-243-6602.